The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) is calling for Mr Brandis to step down from his post due to his ‘unacceptable and gross infringement’ upon the independence of the office of the Australian solicitor general. Mr Brandis has made headlines over the last week after it emerged that he had given the controversial direction that the former solicitor general Justin Gleeson needed to consult the Attorney General’s office before issuing legal advice. Mr Gleeson resigned from his post earlier this week, citing an irreconcilable conflict with Mr Brandis.

Conflicting accounts

Yesterday, fellow Australian Liberal Party MP Andrew Laming told ABC Radio that Mr Gleeson’s decision to abandon his office meant that Mr Brandis’ direction was no longer needed, as the direction came in direct response to a lack of trust in the former solicitor general. However, this explanation of events contradicts Mr Brandis’ own claim that the direction was intended as a safeguard against ad hoc requests for the advice of the solicitor general, and was not intended to limit the office’s independence.

Profession ‘deeply concerned’

ALA national president Tony Kenyon commented: ‘It is of deep concern to the profession that some attorney generals appear to have no regard for important and fundamental safeguards on executive power, such as an independent solicitor general.’ The Law Council of Australia has praised Mr Gleeson’s decision to step down as ‘selfless and honorable’, but had not as yet publicly commented on Mr Brandis’ role in the controversy.

Sources: The Guardian; Australian Financial Review